How long does it take to reserve an N-Number

Chrisgoesflying

Chrisgoesflying

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Chrisgoesflying
I'm planning on importing my currently Canadian registered airplane to the U.S. later this year. A few weeks ago, I reserved a few N-Numbers I'm contemplating for the plane once it's N-Registered. How long does it usually take for the FAA to reserve the number(s)? Is it days (in which case it's overdue), weeks, months? I'm in no rush but hopefully get it approved before August so I can register the plane and not be held back by having to wait for my N-Number. If it does indeed take months (I saw 80+ days on a different forum but that was 4 years ago - COVID related delays I would have to assume), is there any way to expedite it?
 
Yep, minutes. The trick is to keep renewing it each year if you wanted to keep it. I have my amateur radio callsign reserved for a while but now its on some glider.
 
Reserving the number is done online and takes seconds. Actually registering the airplane is the thing that takes months. Did you mail it in or something?
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
How long does it usually take for the FAA to reserve the number(s)?
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Have you entered the number in the database search to see its status? Regardless, for any registration issues I always call the Registration office direct. Use the local number and not the 1-800 number.
 
I did it online. It took 5 minutes. They immediately charged my card. Once i was done they said they’ll send me a letter with confirmation (without giving a timeframe). When i search the numbers i reserved on the FAA database, the numbers still show up as available.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
I did it online. It took 5 minutes. They immediately charged my card. Once i was done they said they’ll send me a letter with confirmation (without giving a timeframe). When i search the numbers i reserved on the FAA database, the numbers still show up as available.
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The database takes a few days to update
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
It's been weeks by now. I guess I'll have to call them and see what's up.
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I don't remember how long mine took but it was longer than a few days. And the number still kept showing as available. I think you're probably still fine. You might try to re-reserve it. If I recall, I did get some sort of message that is was 'allocated' or something like that. This gave me peace of mind until I got the formal notification.
 
IBTL. :crazy:

I don't know what all is going on, but we still haven't received my husband's permanent driver's license card after changing addresses, despite mine coming in a long time ago - and that is a state function, which has nothing to do with the federal govt at all. Infrastructure, government and otherwise, as a whole has not been operating efficiently or properly for several years now, in my experience.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
It's been weeks by now. I guess I'll have to call them and see what's up.
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I reserved one for the RV a couple months ago. I don't know how soon I got the paper (my desk is a disaster right now and it didn't find it in "the stack"), but i remember being surprised how quickly it came. I want to say just a couple weeks.
 
Jim K said:
I reserved one for the RV a couple months ago. I don't know how soon I got the paper (my desk is a disaster right now and it didn't find it in "the stack"), but i remember being surprised how quickly it came. I want to say just a couple weeks.
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I guess I'll just have to wait. I called the hotline today and they had a tape saying that they're currently processing applications received on or around April 17. If they also mean N-Number reservations, I should get mine in a week or two which is perfectly fine.
 
Guessing that the N number are removable stickers of some sort? If someone wanted to change their tail number, sounds like that would involve some work with the paint? (existing numbers and sun oxidation?)
 
mandm said:
Guessing that the N number are removable stickers of some sort? If someone wanted to change their tail number, sounds like that would involve some work with the paint? (existing numbers and sun oxidation?)
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My current Canadian N-Numbers are stickers but very sticky ones. I don't think I can remove them without completely damaging the color underneath them. Luckily they're only on the vertical stabilizer, fairly small and not where FAA N-Numbers go on the fuselage. I was wondering if I can simply strike them through but keep them on the plane to reflect its Canadian history. My paint is still in good shape and definitely don't want to get it painted right now. I'll cross that bridge and figure out how to attach the new numbers while removing the old ones when I have to.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
My current Canadian N-Numbers are stickers but very sticky ones. I don't think I can remove them without completely damaging the color underneath them. Luckily they're only on the vertical stabilizer, fairly small and not where FAA N-Numbers go on the fuselage. I was wondering if I can simply strike them through but keep them on the plane to reflect its Canadian history. My paint is still in good shape and definitely don't want to get it painted right now. I'll cross that bridge and figure out how to attach the new numbers while removing the old ones when I have to.
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I have applied the new N numbers directly over the old ones with a decal. I left them on until the airplane was painted, the last one was 6 years.
 
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